2. Merge sort
merge sort: Repeatedly divides the data in half, sorts each half, and combines the sorted halves into a sorted whole.
The algorithm:
Divide the list into two roughly equal halves.
Sort the left half.
Sort the right half.
Merge the two sorted halves into one sorted list.
An example of a "divide and conquer" algorithm.
Invented by John von Neumann in 1945

3. Merge sort example index 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 value 22 18 12 -4 58 31 42 221 2 3 4 5 6 7
value 22 18 12 -4 58 31 42
split 22 18 12 -4 58 7 31 42
split
split 22 18 12 -4 58 7 31 42
split
split
split
split 22 18 12 -4 58 7 31 42
merge
merge
merge
merge 18 22 -4 12 7 58 31 42
merge
merge -4 12 18 22 7 31 42 58
merge -4 7 12 18 22 31 42 58

4. Merging sorted halves

5. Merge sort
merge sort: Repeatedly divides the data in half, sorts each half, and combines the sorted halves into a sorted whole.
The algorithm:
Divide the list into two roughly equal halves.
Sort the left half.
Sort the right half.
Merge the two sorted halves into one sorted list.
An example of a "divide and conquer" algorithm.
Invented by John von Neumann in 1945